GEORGE ZIMMERMAN TO BE RELEASED ON BAIL

A Florida judge granted bail to George Zimmerman, the
neighborhood watchman who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, this
morning during a dramatic hearing that offered clues about how
the
high-profile second-degree murder case will proceed.

Judge Kenneth Lester set a bond for Zimmerman at $150,000,
with GPS monitoring and a curfew, but said Zimmerman could not be
released until his lawyers can work out details with the state
and sheriff's department, including whether or not the defendant
can reside out of state. Zimmerman has also been ordered not to
have any contact with the Martin family, and to stay away from
firearms.

The decision capped off an unusually tense bond hearing, in which
Zimmerman took the stand and addressed Trayvon Martin's parents
for the first time:

"I want to say that I am sorry for the loss of your son,
I did not know how old he was, I thought he was a little younger
than me, and I did not know if he was armed or
not."

Zimmerman's wife and parents testified via telephone during the
hearing, and pledged to take responsibility for the 28-year-old
if he is released on bail. The prosecution grilled all three
defense witnesses about
Zimmerman's past legal troubles, including a domestic
violence case and a police assault incident that were both
dismissed. The line of questioning indicates that the state will
try to cast the Martin shooting as part of a pattern of violent
behavior.

Lester also ruled this morning that the media has a right to get
access to Zimmerman's court file, although personal information
about the witnesses will be redacted. O'Mara had
requested that the file be sealed.